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Chando Chandanamo

Posted by ammupatti on March 18, 2011

This is a rhyme in the form of a series of questions and elimination of possible answers logically. As I do not remember the full rhyme, I do not remember also if a final agreement was arrived at. It is like examining an object and trying to decide if it is this or that( I am reminded of the examination of mixtures in the chemistry lab).The full impact of the verses is understood only if one understands Tamil. Here it goes:

Chando Chandanamo (both chandu and chandanam(sandal paste) are used to adorn the forehead)

Chandanamanaal Manakkadtho (if it is chandanam, it would have been fragrant)

Manakka Mangayo (Is it a mango to give out fragrance)

Mangayanaa Thongatho (If it were mango it would have been hanging – on the tree)

Thonga Thoranamo (Is it festoon to hang?)

Thornamanaal Kattatho (If it were festoons, it would have been tied)

Katta Gopuramo (Is it a tower to build – Katta in tamil means both to tie and to build – The tower here indicates the tower of temple)

Gopuramano Kumbidatho (if it were a temple tower, should you not be paying obeisance to it)

Kumbida Rajavo (Is he a King to pay obeisance)

Rajavanal Eavano (If it were a king , would he not be ordering – eeaval also is used to describe the noise made by lizards)

Eava palliyo (Is it a lizard to make noise)

Palliyanal Padungatho (if it were a lizard, would it not be hiding)

Padunga Kallano (Is he a thief to hide)

I do not remember beyond this. I have been asking many people for the past 3 years if they knew the ending of this. I have not been lucky enough to find anyone who could tell me the full song. If any of my readers know, please fill in. Thank you.

Update: Thanks to Uma in comments we have the rest of the song:

Kallanana odano (if he were a thief would he not run)Oda Kaveriyo (Is it Kaveri to run -river Kaveri_Kaveriyana kalangado (if it were Kaveri, would it not be murky)kalanga kazhuneero (If it is murky, is it cattle-feed?)Kazhuneerana thithikado (if it is kazhuneer would it not be sweet)Thithika Vellamo (Is it jaggery to be sweet)Vellamana Thinnukoyen (and if it is jaggery, why don’t you eat it)

bharathysaid

Though many tried their level best for “chanda chandanamam” it is very sad nobody could complete the song in its entirety. If anybody is interested, I will give the full song for everybody to enjoy. Regards,

N Sudhakharsaid

This was taught me by my beloved grandpa (Doctor Appa). It’s really a time machine which took me to the age of three where I sit near my Granpa during night at our lawn and he recites the same with a beautiful nursery raga!! Facinating!!

Put each item on the little one’s palm, fake feed everyone in air for each vai.. Wipe the palm off in thodachu thidachu. When Aanai and Poonai starts, start walking with one’s fingers slowly towards the child and tickle at ting ting